Corn-husking machinery.



B; C. SMALL. CORN HUSKING MACHINERY.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 6, 1904.

976,223. Patented 'Nov. 22, 1910.

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B. G. SMALL GORNHUSKING MACHINERY.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 6, 1904} 976,223. Patented N0v..22,-1910.

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B. G. SMALL.

CORN HUSKING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1904.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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B G SMALL 001m HUSKING MACHINERY. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6, 1904.

[1 1777 658 6%.: yam/1 BYRON C. SMALL, OF MORRIS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOTHE B. C. SMALL MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, 0]? GOAL CITY, ILLINOIS, A.CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CORN-HUSKING MACHINERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

Application filed August 6, 1904. Serial No. 219,711.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON C. SMALL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Corn-Husking Machinery, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention contemplates an improved and highly efficient machine ofthat type adapted to be drawn through a corn field and-to strip the earsof corn from the stalks as it passes along, leaving the corn husks onthe stalks.

Generally speaking, the object of my invention is the provision of animproved and highly eflicient corn husking machine of the above generalcharacter; and a special object is the provision of an improved meansfor separating the ears of corn from the stalks and husks withoutmaterially injuring either the corn or the stalks and husks; and anotherobject is to provide an arrangement whereby the tendency of the machineto deviate from a straight line of travel, due to the side draft or sideresistance offered by the corn stalks to the overhanging husking means,will be counteracted by causing the two vehicle wheels by which thehusking means is driven to work independently of each other-that is,imposing all or the greater part of the work upon the wheel at one sideof the machine, should the resist ance oflered by the corn stalks at theother side of the machine tend to skew or swerve the machine around toone side; and still another object is to provide an improved arrangementof rolls adapted to draw the corn stalks between them, and to yieldinglyspread apart as the stalks and husks pass between them; and a furtherobject is to provide a machine adapted to reach out in advance of therolls, and to collect and gather the corn stalks together, so as toinsure their introduction in a proper manner between the lower andforward ends of the two rolls; and it is also an object, of course, toprovide'details and features of improvement tending to increase thegeneral efliciency and serviceability of a corn husking machine of thisparticular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a cornhusking machine embodying the principles of my invention; Figs. 2 and 3are details of one of the general devices for reaching out and drawingthe corn stalks between the tWo rolls of the machine; Fig. 4 is a planof the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of themachine shown in Fig. l; a conveyer for disposing of the husked ears ofcorn being shown in longitudinal sect-ion; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailsection on line 66 in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view ofthe differential gearing through which power is communicatedindependently by each vehicle wheel to the husking means and otheroperative parts; Fig. 8 is a detail section on line 88 in Fig. 7 Fig. 9is a detail of the lower end of one of the rolls; Fig. 10 is a detailplan View of the lower portions of both rolls; Fig. 11 is a View of thegear-connections between the upper ends of the two rolls.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises a suitable body-frame A,mounted on a pair of vehicle wheels B and C, and adapted to support thehusking means and other operative parts in suitably elevated positions.The rotatable rolls D and E, which receive the corn stalks between themand grip and hold the butt-end of each unhusked ear of corn until theear is knocked out of the husks, are preferably disposed at the lefthand side of the body-frame and inclined rearwardly and upwardly. Asshown in Fig. 10, the lower ends of said rolls are tapered more or less,and mounted in bearings d and e, which latter taper in continuation ofthe taper of the lower ends of the rolls. In this way, the lower ends ofthe rolls are tapered to provide a flaring space into which the cornstalks are first received. As will hereinafter more fully appear, theroll D is preferably adapted for swinging adjustment toward and awayfrom the other roll, and to such end that the bearing (Z is pivoted tothe body-frame. At their upper ends, the two rolls are yieldinglyconnected by a spring F, and also by the straight link G and theL-shaped link H. The four gears l, 2, 3 and 4 serve as thepower-transmitting connection between the two rolls, the roll E beingdriven from the vehicle wheels, and the power being then communicatedthrough the said spur gears to the roll D. The gears 2 and 3 are idlergears, as they simply constitute a medium of connection between the twogears 1 and 4, the latter having axes coincident with the axes of thetwo rolls. With this arrangement, it is obvious that the two rolls can'5 spread apart at their upper ends without in any way disarranging ordestroying the efficiency of the power-transmitting connection betweenthem. Preferably, inasmuch as the husking means is thus mounted tooverhang the left hand side of the machine, power is communicated fromthe two vehicle wheels in the following manner: From the wheel B,through sprocket wheels and a sprocket chain 6 to a sleeve 6 and fromthe wheel C through similar sprockets and a chain c to a shaft 0 Thebevel gears and c are rigidly connected respectively with the said shaftand sleeve, the latter, however, being loose on the shaft. Theintermediate member I is loose on the said shaft and carries the smallbevel pinions and 0 which latter are engaged respectively by the bevelgears b and 0 The periphery of the intermediate member I is providedwith sprocket teeth adapting it to serve as a sprocket wheel. A sprocketchain i connects the member I with a sprocket wheel on the shaft andfrom this shaft power is communicated through the bevels, i and to theroll E. With this arrangement, it is obvious that the differentialgearing is included in the power-transmitting connection between theground or vehicle wheels and the husking means, whereby each wheel doesits work independently of the other; and also where by all or a greaterpart of the work of driving the husking means is imposed on the wheel C,should the resistance offered by the corn stalks as they enter betweenthe two rolls tend to skew or swerve the machine around to one side. Inother words, the said resistance or side draft brought about by causingthe corn stalks to engage the machine at one side, is counteracted bycausing the wheel C to drag or pull hard, so to speak, as soon as itattempts to run ahead of the other wheel.

As soon as a corn stalk is brought between the two rolls, as shown inFig. 6, the unhusked ears of corn on the stalk are brought in turn to aposition between the rolls, the rolls gripping and pinching the butt-endof each unhusked ear as soon as it arrives at the proper point: butbefore the entire ear can pass between the rolls, the ear of corn isbroken off and knocked out of the husks, the husked ear being thendropped and disposed of in any suitable manner, while the corn husksremain on the stalk and pass through the rolls. Any suitable means canbe employed for accomplishing this broadly novel feature of knocking theears of corn out of the husks: as illustrated, the said means comprisesa Vibratory knocker-bar J, arranged parallel with the two rolls and inposition to-give the ears of corn a sharp blow as fast as they arrive atpoints where the butt-ends of the ears can be securely gripped and heldmomentarily between the two rolls. This bar is shown mounted onreciprocating rods j, the latter being carried in suitable bearings onthe body-frame. As a simple and efficient arrangement for reciprocatingthese rods, each rod has its endportion provided with an oblique andslightly curved slot j and each slot is engaged by a crank j Thesecranks are mounted on a shaft 7' which is connected with the previouslymentioned shaft 2' through the medium of bevel gears j, a shaft andsprocket wheels and sprocket chain j. Thus, with this arrangement, boththe rolls and the vibratory knocker-bar are driven from the groundwheelsthat is to say, the vehicle wheels upon which the bodyframe ismounted. It is evident that the arrangement of the slots j is such thatthe knocker-bar makes a quicker stroke in one direction than in theotherpreferably a quicker back stroke than a forward thrust.

It will be understood that the framework can be suitably constructed tosupport the rolls and knockerbar, and that suitable inclosing means canbe employed, if it is deemed necessary or advisable. As a furtherfeature of improvement, a pair of obliquely arranged sprocket-chains Kand L are provided and arranged in position to reach out ahead of therolls, so as to collect and gather the corn stalks between the lowerends of the rolls. For this purpose, said chains can be provided withprojections and Z adapted to engage the corn stalks as the machinetravels along parallel with the rows of corn. The chain K is shown as being of greater length than the chain L, and as crossing the two rollsobliquely. In this way, the chain K will bend the corn stalks over toone side, as shown in Fig. 6, thus allowing the ears of corn to bebrought into better position for engagement by the knocker-bar. Thechain K is driven from the shaft 2' through the medium of bevel gears 76while the chain L is driven from the shaft M through the medium ofsprocket chains m and m The shaft M is driven from the shaft i byproviding the former shaft with a sprocket wheel adapted to en gage thesprocket chain 2', as shown more clearly in Fig. 1. Furthermore, thesprocket chain m is arranged at the bottom of a trough or chute madapted to receivethe ears of corn which are knocked out of the cornhusks by the vibratory knocker-bar. Said chain m is provided with cleatsor buckets, adapting it to act as a conveyer chain for carrying thehusked ears of corn upwardly to a point where they may be dischargedinto a second trough or chute N.

This transversely and upwardly inclined trough or chute N is also'provided with a conveyer belt or chain 71, whereby the ears of corn thushusked and mechanically har vested from the standing corn stalks may bedischarged at the other side of the machine. The chain or belt a isdriven from the. shaft M through the medium of bevel gears 12 and a anda short vertical shaft. It is obvious, however, that the variouspower-transmitting connections can be varied or changed to suit therequirementseas may be thought desirable or necessary.

As the corn stalks enter between the lower ends of the rolls, and as themachine moves along, the entire length of each corn stalk is caused topass between the two rolls, and the ears of corn are knocked out of thecorn husks as fast as the ears are caughtand held at their buttendsbetween the two rolls. Should an ear or other enlargement on the cornstalk pass on and through the rolls, it is obvious that the latter willeasily separate and thus prevent breakage. It will be understood,however, that the spring means for yieldingly holding the two rollstogether is of sufiicient strength or tension to cause the rolls tomomentarily pinch or grip the end of each ear at the point where it isjoined to the corn stalk, thus holding the same in position to be struckby the vibratory knocker-bar. The blow or impact given by this barbreaks the ear of corn off from the stalk and knocks it out of thehusks, which latter remain attached to the stalk, and which then pass onbetween the rolls. The body-frame may be provided with a tongue 0secured in a suitable manner to the body frame and by which the machineis drawn across the corn field. In this way the corn is stripped fromthe corn stalks as the machine travels along a row of corn, the husksbeing left there on the corn stalks. In other words, with my improvedmachine, the corn is mechanically husked and harvested without injuringeither the corn or the fodder, the latter being left standing in thefield.

It is obvious that the various details of construction can be changed orvaried without departing from the spirit of my invention, and for thisreason I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown anddescribed. I claim broadly the feature of momentarily gripping anunhusked ear of corn at its butt-end and then striking it a blowsufficient to knock the ear of corn out of the husks. The feature ofcounteracting the side draft or side pull occasioned by the engagementof the corn stalks with the husking means at one side of the machine, isalso a feature which I claim broadly. These, with other features, asherein described and claimed, constitute my invention.

lVith further respect to the feature of driving the husking means fromthe traction or ground wheels, I find that, with the construction andarrangement of gearing shown, the wheel C does more work than the wheelB, not only when the machine tends to swerve or swing to one side, butalso when the machine is running straight ahead. In this way, more workis imposed upon the wheel C, owing to the difference in size of thewheels 0 and b and the presence of the rotary bevel pinions between thesaid bevel gears c and. .71 with the result that the tendency of themachine to swerve to one side, owing to the over-hanging character ofthe husking means, is effectively counteracted. Nith further respect tothe husking means, it will be seen that a relatively quick back orreturn stroke on the part of the knocker-bar J enables the latter tomove back quickly after breaking off an ear of corn, and thus shiftquickly out of the way of the next or succeeding ear of corn.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A corn husking machine comprising means for gripping and holding thecorn stalks, a vibratory knocker-bar arranged in position'to knock theears of corn out of the husks, together with means for vibrating saidbar and for giving the same a quicker back stroke than forward stroke.

2. A corn husking machine comprising a pair of rotatable rolls betweenwhich the corn stalks are drawn, a sprocket chain having projectionsadapted to engage the corn stalks, said chain extending obliquely acrossthe rolls, so as to bend the corn stalks to one side, and aknocker-device for knocking the ears of corn out of the husks justbefore the latter pass between the rolls.

3. A corn-husking machine comprising a pair of rotatable rolls betweenwhich the corn stalks are drawn, said rolls terminating at their ends infrusto-conical portions, a sprocket chain having projections adapted toengage the corn stalks, said chain extending obliquely across the rolls,so as to bend the corn stalks to one side, and a knockerdevice forknocking the ears of corn out of the husks just before the latter passbetween the rolls.

4:. A corn-husking machine comprising a pair of rotatable rolls arrangedparallel, means for reaching out in advance of the rolls and collectingand drawing the cornstalks together between the forward ends of thelatter. a sprocket chain having projections adapted to engage the cornstalks, said chain extending obliquely across the rolls so as to bendthe stalks to one side, and a continuously acting knocker bar arrangedin position to knock the ears of corn out of the husks just before thelatter pass into the rolls.

5. A corn-husking machine comprising a pair of rotatable rolls betweenwhich the corn stalks are drawn, a sprocket chain having projections toengage the corn stalks,

said chain extending obliquely across the rolls, so as to bend the cornstalks to one side, and means for removing the ears of corn out of thehusks just before the latter pass between the rolls.

6. A corn husking machine comprising a pair of smooth rolls adapted toreceive a corn stalk between them, a sprocket chain having projectionsadapted to engage the corn stalks, said chain extending obliquely acrossthe rolls so as to bend the stalks to one side, and a vibratory knockerbar adapted to knock an ear of corn out of the husks while the latterare held between the said rolls, said rolls and knocker bar beingarranged parallel with their upper ends farther to the rear than theirlower ends.

7. In a corn harvesting and husking inachine, ear snapping rolls, meansoperating upon the tops of stalks passing between the rolls to bend saidstalks over one of the rolls, and ear detaching means cooperating withsaid bending means and snapping rolls.

8. In a corn harvesting and husking machine, rearwardly and upwardlyinclined ear snapping rolls, laterally operating stalk bending means andtransversely operating ear detaching means cooperating with the rollsfor detaching the ears from the stalks.

Signed by me at South Wilmington, Illinois this 29th day of July 1904:.

BYRON C. SMALL;

WVitnesses:

HENRY S. BARELLA, THOMAS OVERTON.

